Transfer conveyer



`lune 16, 1936. 1 F TRUDEAU 2,044,193

TRANSFER CONVEYER 'Filed March 50, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 @i 15:1 K K j Nlbf Vr z\ N itil 5 nvm/mf? JOHN A Tfn/umu.

A TTONEYS June 16, 1936. J. F. TRUDEAU TRANSFER CONVEYER Filed March 30,1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 16, 1936. J. F. TRUDEAU 2,044,193

TRANSFER CONVEYER Filed March Z50, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 M .am

ATTORNEYS June 16, 1936. 1 ETRUDEAU 2,044,193

TRANSFER coNvEYER Filed March 30, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 16, 1936.J. F. TRuDl-:Au

TRANSFER CONVEYER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 30, 1933 www A rra/Mq ysPatented June 16, 1936 UNITED STATES TRANSFER CONVEYEB Application March30,

19 Claims.

` It is the object of my invention` to provide a method of treatingarticles including such steps as cleaning, immersing, electroplating orbaking in timed relationship to one another according to the state ofthe metal and the effect of heat or the eect of air thereon. Inparticular, it is the object of my invention to provide a synchronizedsystem by which a satsfactory and inexpensive transfer mechanism forheavy loads is provided in which the mechanism will not cramp or produceexcess pressure in the conveying mechanism, such as chain rails andchain guides.

It is a further object to provide such a mechanisin with a novel form ofchain and tracks so that heavy loads may be raised and lowered by suchchains and transferred from one chain to the other.

' It is a further purpose to provide a master conveying chain, asuccession of vertically-disposed conveyer chains for raising andlowering heavy articles from one position to another and, in the coursethereof, remove them from the master chain and convey them from one tothe other of the vertically-disposed chains, and a third chaincomprising a horizontal conveying portion, a vertical conveying portionand a second horizontal conveying portion, thereby permitting of removalof these articles from one of the vertically-disposed conveyers and thetransport of the articles to another.

In other words, I provide a common master chain and conveyer system incombination with various immersion chains and. a baking chainsynchronized to operate with respect to one another and to transfer thework from one system to the other in timed relationship.

It is a further object to provide a system in which, instead oftransferring the articles from one raising and lowering chain to anotherdirectly, such articles may be conveyed horizontally by the master chainto and from each raising and lowering station and the chains for thatpurpose.

To this end the present invention, comprises, in combination with themain automatic conveyer, a transfer conveying mechanism having a rigidtrack shaped to extend above and between receiving and delivery stationsof the main conveyer and project transversely of the path of the mainconveyer at said receiving and delivery stations, and a transferconveyer chain made up oi' a'series of links. anti-friction rollers,pick-up pins or studs and guiding cheek plates; the cheek plates beingpresented preferably in pairs to 1933, Serial No. 663,571

(Cl. 21d-47) straddle and slide upon the track bars for causing thechain to follow the contour of the supporting track bars and resist thelateral strain upon the-chains of the hangers which support the articlesunder treatment. The improved transfer conveyer chain may be made in twoendless chains of the character dened operating upon two parallel trackbars and driven by means of a common drive shaft acting through sprocketwheels which engage the chains respectively at one point. Unlike'theordinary conveyer chains that have been used for similar purposes, thereis preferably only one driving sprocket for each chain, making a pair ofsprockets upon a common shaft for the two chains in the improvedmechanism, the cheek plates of the transfer chain's serving elciently toguide the chains upon the shaped track bars in travelling transverselyof the main conveyer in picking up article carriers from and depositingthem upon the main conveyer chains while transferring them from onetreatment tank to another.

It will be understood that this mechanism and the method of handling thematerials will apply to any type of plckling, coating, enamelllng,baking, electroplating or similar apparatus and to any weight within thestructural limits of the machine of the material to be handled, but ithas been found particularly advantageous with heavy weights whichheretofore have been dimcult, if not impossible, of handling in any suchmanner.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a. side elevation of the apparatus of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of the chains which has cheek linksoppositely disposed;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the chain with oppositelydisposed cheek links;

Figure 4 is a section on the line l-d of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a section on the line S--G of Figure l looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure '7 is a section on the line i-'i of Figure l looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure' is a section on the line 8--8 of Figure l. looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 91s a section on the line 9--9 of Figure l looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a detail section through a portion of the support for oneof the carrier rods illustratlng in section the method of support on achain oi the carrier rods by a cup and pin con- 55 struction.- suchmechanism vbeingparticularly shown in Figure 13;

l'igure 11 is a side elevation of a portion of the chain having cheeklinks all on the same side;

Figure 12 is aside elevation of a'double cheek Unk; nnllkigure 13 is aside elevation of a single cheek l'igur'e liisatopplanviewofthelinksinliigure 11;

Figure l5 is a detail sideelevation oi' a modi.- ned form or track andchain transfer mechanism;

Figure 16 is a section on the line I3-I3',of ligure 17 looking in thedirection of the arrows, showing a modined form of raising and loweringchain construction;

Figure 17 is a side elevation of a modiiied form of raising and loweringchain construction:

Figure 18 is a section on the line I3-I3 of Figure 17;

Fiaure19 is a' side elevation of another modiiied form of elevating andlowering chain adapted to move from and return tol the master chain,the'can'ier for the articles being treated, such master chain being usedin this connection i'or transferring the carrier directly from oneraising and lowering stage to another;

Figure 20 is a section on the line 23-23 oi' Maure 19:

Figure 21 is a detail illustration of the method of transfer of a rodcarrier irom .one raising and lowering chain to another in theconstruction shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I provide a are horizontal siderails I I which extend between theraiis I3 Aon the brackets I2 carriedon the verticalstandards I,2.3,3, andl fromstandard I to standard 3.Such side rails are arranged to carry'the vertically disposed tracks I3known as the raising and lowering tracks. Mounted on the track I3 is araising and lowering chain I3a. This track I3 is mounted Aupon the siderails through the bolts I3 and aligning clips I3. 'Ihe bolts I3 arelsupported in brackets I3 that are spaced by the spacer rod I1. Thisconstruction is vertically aligned and adjusted by the screws I1a andthe cron plates I1b. In this way, the lower ends of the tracks arevertically positively aligned and spaced. The top portion of the trackI3 is connected at I3 to the standard lsuch as at 2, 3 or 3.

The side rails are supported and aligned by additional spaced rails I3mounted on the brackets I2.- Prom these brackets I2 to the foundationextend'the b iiurcated lower ends, such as 2a, and 2h or 3a and 3b or laand 3b.

The master chain designated 23 moves as indicated by the arrows over thesprocket 2l downwardly adjacent the standard I under a sprocket22andtbencetothelefthandovertherail23 carried on the standards I to 3inclusive and thence beneath the sprocket 24 over thesprocketA2Iai:thetopofthestanciard1whcnceitrlatees where they remain apredetermined period until the chain I3b'elevatesthem quickly and againl5 lowers them into the rinse tank 23 after which they areelevatedquickly and lowered by the chain- I3c and arethen depositedupon thechain 30 known as the oven chain.

It will be understood that there may be any 20 number oi' the chainsI3a, IIb and`I3c and any number of tanks depending upon the number ofoperations to be performed.

It it is desired to electroplate, there may be an electroplating tankand any other electro-chemi- 25 cal operation may be performed asdesired.

In the present instance, for the purpose of simplicity, I have shown a.loading station. a pickling stationl a rinsing station and a coating orbaking station. 30

'I'hese chains I3a, I.3b and I3c are driven from a common driving motor3| through the belt 32- which drives the shaft 33 carried in thebrackets. 34 suspended from the rails I3. The shaft 33 drives throughthe gear boxes 33 the cross shaft 35 33 carrying the sprockets 31. Theshaft 33 alsodrives through the chain 33. and through the gear reductionbox 39 the sprockets 33 on theshaft 3l which drives the master chain-23.

Oven chain The motor 32 drives through the belt 33 the. shaft 33 of aspeed reducer 33 having a driven shaft I3 which drives the chain 31 thatin turn drives the sprocket 43 on a shaft 43 carrying the 45 drivingsprocket 33 for the oven chain.

- This oven chain is guided on the upper and lower rails 3| and 32carried on the standards- 33 and 31. It passes beneath the sprocket 33on the bracket 3i of the standard 3 and thence un,-` no' wardly and overthe sprocket 33 downwardly under the sprocket 33 thence over thevsprocket 31 carried on a bracket 33 of the standard 1 and, back on therail 32 to the original sprocket 33.

When it passes over the sprocket 31 it is m55 its position to unload thecarrier rods on to the main chain 23 at the left hand unloading station.

'Ihe frame 33 indicates the oven frame having ports 33 through which thechain 33 is adapted 6 0 to pass and carry with it the carrier rods andarticles carried. The heating mechanism and spray mechanism, if used forcoating in this oven,

are omitted for the purpose oi clarity. The slack inthechainnistakenupbythe adiustingos screw 3| operating on the sliding support. over thesprocket 33.-

. C'arrierrods- Thecarrlerrodmaybeofanydesiredcon-'lo struction. Oneform is shown in Figure 10.

It comprises a rod 33 having inverted cups at either end adapted to rideupon the pins 33\ carriedbythe carrierchains. In thisparticular.

instance. asshowninll'igure 10, there'maybe-7l i` guide rollers B6 and61 being guided on tracks 68 or therods may rest directly upon transfertracks, such as shown in Iiigure 21, designated 69 having an inclinedsurface 10 and an inclined abutment 'Il at the end of the track toposition the rod so that it will be picked up by the cup. The cup may beeither inverted as shown in Figure l0 or right side up depending uponthe type of transfer desired.

Chain The chain construction of the master chain 20 is that shown inFigures 2, 3, and 4 in which the links consisting of alternately spacedplates 12 joined by pintle pins 13 and carrying rollers 'I6 adapted toride on top of the track 9 are shown. Interleaved between these plates12 are oppositely disposed cheek plates 15 adapted to engage the tracks9 and 23. Thus, the load on the tracks is carried by the roller 16 andthe chains are prevented from binding on the tracks by the cheek platesof the cheek links 15. A suitable bearing sleeve 'i6 is carried on eachpintle pin 78 to provide a suitable bearing support for the links 12 and'l5 and the roller 16.

The raising and lowering chain, such as i3d, i3b and I3c is of the formshown in Figures 11 and 13 where all of the cheek plates are on the sameside of the chain riding upon the tracks i3.

The same form of chain as the main carrier chain is employed through anoven chain having oppositely disposed cheek links.

Referring to Figure 16, it will be noted that there is a modification inthe track i3 by the use of a bifurcated brace or standard member Ti and1S, which members are retained on the track I3 by the bolt 'i9 and`clips dit. These vertical members ll and it are connected by brackets dito the side rails i9.

A further modification is shown in Figure 19 where the generallyrectangular frame 82 is provided with a chain i3d driven by the sprocket93. It is adapted to remove from the horizontal master chain ad thehooked bracket 85, rapidly elevate it and transfer it and again lower iton to the chain @d for engagement with the lug E@ on the chain at. Thishooked bracket carries the depending carrier rods B7 which have acontact shoe 88 engaging the plate 89 of the main support S0. Articles9i are hung upon the branched carrier rod 37 in the usual manner.

This modified construction illustrates the principle of transferring atintervals the carrier rods and brackets to and from the master chain d@as distinguished from the transfer shown in Figure 2l, for instance,where it is made from raising and lowering chain to raising and loweringchain directly and the master chain only has the function of loading theraising and lowering chains and unloading from the oven chains.

Method of Operation In the method oi operation of my apparatus, I loadat the right hand end of the machine by transferring the carrier rodsfrom the main chain 2li to the chain isa and place upon the carrier rodsthe articles to be treated which are then elevated, transferred andlowered into the tank such as the pickling tank 28 where they remain anappreciable period until the next succeeding cup or similar mechanism onthe chain i3b lifts them from the track 69 quickly elevating thearticles from the pickling tank and transfers them over to the rinsingtank where they again come to rest due to the fact that the carrier rodsare resting on a track 89 until they are picked up by cups or othersuitable mechanism on the chains I6c, at which time, they are quicklyelevated and transferred to the last pair of tracks 69 whence they areelevated by the oven chain and are conveyed into the 4oven and thencethrough .a tortuous path through the oven to give an appreciable timefor the baking operation to take place whereupon they are removed fromthe oven, the carrier rods are picked up by the main carrier chain 20and the articles which have been .treated are removed. Thus, the carrierchain only has the burden of returning the carrier rods to the loadingstation. 'I'his conveyer is of the dwell type in which the mechanism-remains stationary for a fixed period with the work carrier at each ofa series of processing stations, such as a loading station, a picklingstation, a rinsing station, a neutralizing station, an oven station andan unloading station. A timing device starts the main driving motor 3lto advance the carriers to the next process. In order to avoid stoppingthe work for a dwell period between the tank 29 and the oven, there is aseparate drive for the oven station, such as the oven chain 30 and itsdriving mechanism operating immediately after the transfers and returnchain have come to rest or they maybe simultaneously operated. Chainscan stop themselves in any desired position by tripping the motorcircuit. The exact position of the pick-up pins or cups on the chainsmay be utilized t0 determine the sequence of operations and the periodbetween the movements of the articles to be treated.

Heretofore, all conveyers have given great diiculty in producing asatisfactory and inexpensive transfer mechanism for heavy loads onaccount of the tendency of the chain to cramp and to produce anexcessive pressure between the chain roller and the chain guides which Iobviate with the mechanism heretofore shown and described. y

The rollers with my chain can turn freely as the chain is guided by theextended side cheek links with the result that there is no binding.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my inventionsuch modications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditionsand uses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

l.. In combination, a two-story frame, a master chain passing along thetop, bottom and ends of said frame, a plurality of vertically disposedraising and lowering chains, guide frames therefor, transfer stationsbetween said master chainsy the raising and lowering chains and betweensaid raising and lowering chains, immersion tanks associated with thetransfer stations between said raising and lowering chains.

2. In combination, a two-story frame, a master chain passing along thetop, bottom and ends of said frame, a, plurality of vertically disposedraising and lowering chains, guide frames therefor, transfer stationsbetween said master chains and the raising and lowering chains andbetween said raising portions and lowering portions of the raising andlowering chains, immersion tanks associated with the transfer stationsbetween said raising and lowering chains, means fordriving said chainsin synchronism-with one another, an oven chain adapted to removematerial from a rest station .at the end of the last raising andlowering chain, transport material carried therei by throughl an ovenland deliver a. portion of the loa'd from the oven chain on to the masterchain for return to the initial loading station adjacent the initialraising and .lowering chain.

3. In, combination, a frameA having a lower track 'and an upper track oneither side thereof, means for guiding spaced master chains on saidframe overlapping the `respective sides of said tracks," rollers on saidchains for riding on top 'of said tracks, vertically disposed, inverted.

U-shaped tracks on said frames `disposed in oppositely arranged pairs,chains having rollers adapted' to roll on said tracks. and means on saidchains for engaging the' opposite sides ofl said tracks, means on all ofsaid chains for supporting carrier rods detachably.

4. In combination, a frame having a lower track and an upper track oneither side thereof,-l means for guiding spaced master chains on saidframe overlapping the respective sides of -the tracks, rollers on saidchains for riding' on top of 'said tracks.. vertically disposed,inverted,- U- shaped tracks on said frames disposed in ,oppositelyarranged pairs, chains having rollers adapted to roll on said tracks,means on said chains for engaging the opposite sides of said tracks.means on all of said chains for. supporting carrier rods detachably, andmeans intermediate saidchains for facilitating the transfer of said rodsfrom one chain to the otherand supporting the rods and any work piecescarried thereby between the periods of conveyance by the respectivechains.

5. In combination, a, frame having a lower track and an upper track oneither side thereof,` means for guiding spaced master chains on said-1frame overlapping the respective sides of the tracks, rollers on saidchains for riding on top of said tracks, vertically disposed, inverted,U- shaped tracks on said frames disposed in oppositely arranged pairs,chains having rollers adapted to roll on said tracks, means on saidchains for engaging the opposite sides of 'said tracks, means on all ofsaid chains for supporting carrierrods detachably, means intermediate`said chains for facilitating the transfer of said rods from one chainto the other and supportingthe rods and any work pieces carried therebybetween the periods of conveyance by the respective chains, immersiontanks beneath said transinverted, U-shaped tracks oppositely disposed onsaid frame, raising and lowering chains adapted to move on said tracks,said chains having rollers riding on the edges of said tracks and cheekplates engaging the sides of said` tracks, and a master chain havingrails, tracks and oppositely disposed cheek plates for alternatelyengaging said tracks, land means fordetachably supporting carrier rodson said chains, and means of transferring said rods from one place toanother.

8. In combination, a frame, means to move carrier rods in a circuitouspath, means to unload and position work rods at predetermined sta- 9. Incombination, a frame, means to move tions, means including-'tracksmounted 'on said frame to pick up said work rods and rapidly raise andlower them from onestation to another, and adjusting means i'oryadjustably positioning. said tracks relatively to said frame. s

rganier rods in a circuitous path, means to unload and position workrodsgat predetermined stations, means to pick up said work rod's andrap-- idly raise and lower them from one stationto 1o another, saidrapidly raising and lowering means comprising a track mounted on saidframe, a chain having. rollers engaging the edge of the track. and cheekplates engaging the sides of the track whereby carrier rods whichsupport 15 -heavy loads can be rapidly raised and lowered without.-binding, and 'adjusting means for adgustably positioning said trackrelatively to said 10. In combination, a frame, apair of oppo- 20sitelydisposed chain guide tracks mounted on said frame, chain meanshaving rollers and cheek plates adapted to engage said tracks, rodreceiving stations between said tracks adapted tofshift vrods fromone ofthe chains and place them'in 25 position to be picked up by the other ofthe chain means, and adjusting-.means for adjustably positioning said.tracks relatively to said frame.

l1. In combination, oppositely disposed tracks;

oppositely disposed chains'comprising articulated so links having pintlepins, rollers on the pins between the links, and cheek plates on the'links engaging the sidewalls of the track: and certain ofthe--pintlezpins having. carrier rod engaging extensions, carrier rodshaving means on :the 35 v ends thereof for detachably engaging saidextensions wherebv the rods are carried between and by the chains. Y

12. In combination, a pair of side frames, means interconnecting saidside frames in spaced 4o relationship, inverted, U-shaped tracks carriedon? said side frames, immersiontanks below said tracks and between saidside frame, a master rod carrying pair of chains'mounted on said sideframes,.rod and loading transport chains mount- 45 ed on said invertedU-shaped frame tracks, means` for-,transferring -rods from one chain tothe otherand a common driving means for driving all of said chains intimed relation, and an independent-chain system adapted to remove'rodsand-5o work pieces carried thereby from one of said chains and todeliver rods to the master chains.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with amain conveyer, citi a.

frame, a transfer conveyer operating in timed 55- relation with saidmain conveyer for transferring work-piece hangers between saidconveyers,said transfer conveyer comprising a rigidtrack mounted on'said frame andintersecting the path of the main conveyer, a transfer conveyer chain 00encompassing and sliding upon said track, means upon said transfer chainfor supporting workpiece hangers, and adjusting means for adjustablypositioning said track relatively to said frame.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with amain conveyer, of a frame, a transfer conveyer operating' in timedrelation with said main conveyer for removing work-piece hangers fromsaid main conveyer at 70 one point and returning said hangers to saidconveyer at another point, said transfer conveyer comprising a rigidtrack mounted on said frame and intersecting the path of the mainconveyer at two points, a transfer conveyer chain encom- 7s paSing andsliding upon said track, meansupon said transfer chain for supportingwork-piece hangers, and adjusting means for adjustably positioning saidtrack relatively to said frame.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with amain conveyer, of a transfer conveyer operating in timed relation withsaid main conveyer for transferring work-piece hangers between saidconveyers, said transfer conveyer comprising a rigid track intersectingthe path of the main conveyer, means adjustably securing saidy track incooperative relation with said main conveyer, a conveying chainencompassing and sliding upon said track, and means upon said transferchain for supporting work-piece hangers.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination with aseries of treatment tanks, a main conveyer traversing said series oftanks, and a plurality of spaced transfer conveyers operating in timedrelation with said main conveyer for causing the disengagement andengagement of work-piece hangers with said main conveyer and thetransfer of said hangers from one tank to another, each said transferconveyer comprising a rigid track extending transversely of the mainconveyer and projecting overhead and bridging two adjacent tanks, aconveying chain embracing and sliding upon said track and having meansfor engaging and supporting workpiece hangers, and adjusting means foradjustably positioning said transfer conveyer tracks relatively to oneanother.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with amain conveyer, of a plurality of spaced transfer conveyers operating intimed relation with said main conveyer for causing the disengagement andengagement of workpiece hangers from and with said main conveyer andsaid transfer conveyers, each said transfer conveyer comprising a rigidtrack extending transversely of the main conveyer, a transferwconveyingchain provided with guide cheek links embracing and sliding upon saidtrack and means for engaging and supporting work-piece hangers. andadjusting means for adjustably positioning 5 said transfer conveyertracks relatively to one another. 4

i8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with amain conveyer traversing a series of transfer stations, of a transferconveyer operating in timed relation with said main conveyer forremoving work-piece hangers from said main conveyer at certain of saidtransfer stations and returning said hangers to said main conveyer atother transfer stations, said transfer conveyer comprising a rigidarching track intersecting the path of the main conveyer at two adjacenttransfer stations, said track having curved guide portions adjacent saidpoints of intersection, a conveying chain provided with guide cheeklinks embracing and sliding upon said track, and means upon saidtransfer chain for engaging and supporting Work-piece hangers.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with amain conveyer traversing a series of transfer stations, of a transferconveyer operating in timed relation with said main conveyer forremoving work-piece hangers from said main conveyer at certain of saidtransfer stations and returning said hangers to said main conveyer atother transfer stations, said transfer conveyer comprising two parallelrigid track bars extending transversely of the main conveyer and forminga double track bridge between adjacent points of intersection, and twotransfer conveying chains respectively embracing and sliding upon saidtrack bars and each provided with an inwardly presented pin or lugforengaging and supporting work-piece hangers.

JOHN F. TR'UDEAU. 40

